What’s on the line between the Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions? It’s easy; the winner gets to the postseason. The loser still would get a chance to be in the postseason if the Washington Redskins fail to beat the NY Giants early.

Curiously, a tied between Lions or Packers would give both the ticket to the postseason. The sports betting agents know this is a highly unlikely scenario. No team in the NFL will take a 60-minute beating to end up tying with a divisional opponent.

Green Bay is coming off a 38-25 win over the Minnesota Vikings last week. They are 9-6 straight up and 7-7-1 against the spread this season. Detroit lost to the Dallas Cowboys 42-21 on Monday Night Football. They dropped to 9-6 straight up and 8-7 against the spread.

Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Detroit Lions (9-6)

• NFL Point Spread: Green Bay Packers -3.5
• Game Total: 49.5
• Game Time: Sunday, January 1 | 8:30 PM ET
• Stadium: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
• TV: NBC

Why Bet the Green Bay Packers to cover the NFL spread against the Lions

Since Aaron Rodgers mentioned the Packers could run the table, the Packers have won five games in a row. They have one to go. What changed from their horrible start? The defense started doing their job, and the offense clicked; especially Rodgers. Aaron has thrown 14 touchdowns without interceptions in the last six games. He upgraded his game to MVP level and his team caught fire just at the right time.

The price per head sportsbooks set the tone by making the Packers favorites on the road. After all, they are hot, and the Lions are the Lions. QB Aaron Rodgers is 12-3 in his career against the Lions. His domination over the NFC North teams includes 30 touchdowns against Detroit against just six interceptions. He has been flawless in this series, and that’s why his team is the favorite even as they play on the road.

"We feel our season is just getting started," head coach Mike McCarthy said this week. "We understand what we need to do to get to this point. This is about beating the Lions."

The five-game winning streak the Packers have going has them beating the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay has averaged 30.8 points per game in that span, and they have allowed only 17.6 points.

The Packers defense changed the way they play. The secondary got more discipline, and the pass rush got aggressive. Things started to change from that point.

However, the most important thing has been the health of QB Aaron Rodgers. He has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The thing is he look more like the usual Aaron Rodgers. A precise machine who doesn’t get rattle by defenses coming at him.

Also, keep in mind the Packers are 35-17-3 ATS in their last 55 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0 points, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 3.5-10.0, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC teams and 23-11 ATS in their last 34 vs. NFC North.

The NFL Betting trends say Green Bay is 7-3 ATS in its last ten games when playing on the road against Detroit.

Why Bet the Detroit Lions to cover the NFL spread against the Packers

You need to understand how big this game is for the Lions and the city of Detroit. This SNF matchup will directly affect the legacy of QB Matthew Stafford. If he wants to enter the conversation of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he needs to win this game. He needs to beat Aaron Rodgers in Prime Time and win the NFC North.

I know it’s somehow unfair, but it’s the only way to go for Stafford. He has been in the shadow of Rodgers and the Packers for a long time. Stafford is 3-9 against the Packers on his career including a loss this season. He has thrown 23 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

The online bookie software doesn’t trust Stafford when he goes toe-to-toe with Rodgers.  To make it worst, Matthew is dealing with a middle finger injury on his throwing hand. He has been wearing a glove, but one can tell he’s not comfortable passing the ball.

"For me, this is for the division," Stafford said. "That’s as much motivation as I need."

The Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, 7-3 ATS in their last ten games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points, and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games on field turf. Keep in mind; Green Bay is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games on the road.

How to bet the Game Total in the Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions NFL Week 17 Matchup:

For two teams with good quarterbacks, the last few games haven’t put many points on the scoreboard; particularly at the Ford Field. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Green Bay’s last seven games when playing on the road against Detroit.  For this one, the pay per head services set the total to 49.5 points. It’s a high number. But the season and the playoffs are on the line. Both teams should come out firing.

Green Bay averages 26.7 points per game, but as mentioned over the last five wins they have scored 30.8 points in that span. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Green Bay’s last five games on the road. The OVER is 7-2 in their Packers last nine games overall, 4-1 in their last five games following a straight up win, 6-1 in their last seven games as a road favorite, 4-1 in their last five games in Week 17, and 5-1 in their last six vs. NFC teams.

Detroit averages 21.3 points per game. Against Green Bay, they need to raise their game if they want to be in this matchup. Their defense won’t be able to stop Aaron Rodgers on every series, so the offense needs to put points. A lot of them.

The bookmaker software knows the OVER IS is 8-3 in their Lions last 11 games as a home underdog of 3.5-10.0 points, 4-1 in their last five home games vs. a team with a winning road record, 8-3 in their last 11 games in Week 17.

NFL Odds & Picks Packers at Lions: Packers +3.5 and the OVER.